Smyrna times., 1887-03-02


that we shall die Now come with me, :"
said Tatters, firmly
He turned his horse and took the lead.
And now meekly and patiently the others
followed.
But the horses were broken i'll strength
and spirit. The sun in mid-heaven poured
its full force of heat upon the heads of the
thirsty hunters, and they could hardly
keep their seats in the hot saddles. The
horses began to stumble and stagger as
they walked. And yet there was no sight
or sound of anything at all-behind, be-
fore, on the right or on the left Nothing
but the weary, dreary, eternal and un-
broken sea of brown.
Away to the west the bright, blue sky
shut down sharp and tight upon the
brown and blazing plain. The tops of
the long, untrOdden grass cleaned and
shimmered in the heat. Yet not a sign
of water could anywhere be discovered.
Silence, vastness, vOiceless as when the
world came newly from the hand of God.
No one spoke. Steadily and quietly the
leader of the party rode on. Now and
then he would lift his eyes under his hat
to the blazing sun over his left shoulder
and that was all.
There comes time to us all, l believe,
sooner or later, on the plains, in the val
ley or on the mountain, in the palace or
cottage, when we, too, can only lift our
eyes, silent and helpless, to something
shining in heaven.
At last the silent little party heard n
faint sound beyond them, feeble,
screeching cry that came out from the
brown grass beneath them as they
struggled on. Then suddenly they came
out of the tall, brown grass into the open
plain that looked like n plowed field, only
all about the outer edge of the field were
little hills OF forts about as high as q
mans knee. On every one Of these little
forts stood Il soldier sentinel high on his
hind legs and barking with all his might
The lost hunters had found dOgtown, the
first they had ever seen.
The party rode through the town and
looked beyond. Nothing! Behind moth
ing! To the right, nothingl To the left,
nothing; nothing but the great, blue sky
shut down tight against the bOundless sea
of grass.
''Waterl am dying for water" gasped
one of the boys.
Tatters looked him in the face and saw
that what he said was true. lie reflected
a moment and then said.
'Wait here for me-"
Then leaving the others he rode slowly
round the dog town closely scanning the
ground. As he again neared the boys he
uttered cry of delight and beckoned them
to come.
'LOOk there, do yOu sec that little road
winding along through the grass? That
means everything to us"
''Oh, what does it mean? I'm dying of
thirstr' cried one of the brothers.
1T means water! Do you think a great
city like that can get on without water.
Come, let US follow their trail till we find
it,"
So saying Tatters led off at a lively pace,
for the horses were somewhat rested, and
it is safe to say that that they understood
the meaning of the little road under their
feet
'Hurrah! IIurYah! IIurrahr'
Tatters turned in his saddle and shook
his cap to cheer the boys behind, as he
saw a long line Of fresh green willows
starting up ont Of the grass before him.
And didn't the horses dip their noses in
the water. And didn't the boys slide
down from their saddles and throw them
| selves beside it. They all bathed their
faces and their horses nibbled the grass as
the riders sat on the bank and looked anx-
| iously at the setting sun
'StOp here and hold the horses till ]
come back, " said Tatters.
He went down to the edge of the water
and looked long and anXiously at the swift
little stream At last he sprang up, rolled
his ragged pants above his knees and
dashed into the water, clutched little
white object and hurried back to the boys.
"See that! A chip! They are cncampcd
on this stream somewhere, and they can't
be very far away from here"
Eagerly the boys mounted their horses
and rode close after Tatters.
"And how do you know that they are
close by?" qUeried one.
''The chip was wet only on one side. 1t
had not been ten minutes in the water.
As Tatters said this the boys exchanged
glances. They were so glad to be nearing
their father once more. But it somehow
began to dawn upon them very clearly
that they did not know everything, even
| if their father was rich.
Soon guns were heard firing for the lost
party. Turning a corner in the willowy
little river, they saw the tents. the wagons
in corral, and the oxen feeding peace
fully beyOnd.-San Francisco Call